Menopause and Hot Flushes

Hot flushes are an almost inevitable symptom of menopause, in fact for many women this is that first sign of changes that they experience. The feeling of a hot flush can be overwhelming, other than the feeling of heat, other symptoms may include faintness, sudden fatigue or headache. A hot flush will only last for five minutes, but can cause a major disturbance to your life.

Menopause begins when the ovaries have run out of eggs, for most people this is between the ages of 45 and 55. The reason why menopause brings so much change for many women is that the ovaries do more than just produce eggs, they are also responsible for the secretion of hormones. When menopause sets in these levels can drop but up to 90%. With this in mind it is easy to see why it can take as long as seven years for the body to adapt to these major changes.

Hot flushes can be awkward in particular situations, for instance such as at work, or in a social group. Not many of us would feel comfortable excusing ourselves while we got have a sit down and wait for the flush to pass. Unfortunately the only option is to carry on, as if nothing was happening. This is not only difficult socially but incredibly uncomfortable. Some find that hot flushes can even effect them in their sleep. While some women will only experience one or two hot flushes during menopause, some may experience hundreds across a span of several years.

It is not precisely known what causes hot flushes. There is some belief within the scientific community that estrogen levels have an effect on the brains temperature control. When estrogen levels drop, the brain thinks that the body is too cool. It immediately opens up blood vessels and speeds up the flow of blood around the body in order to create heat, which in turn causes the flush.

While some people will tell you that there is no way to control or predict a hot flush, there are in fact a lot of options when it comes to dealing with the symptoms of menopause. Eating a good diet low in processed food and taking part in regular exercise is a great start. It’s important at this time in your life to ensure you are getting adequate amounts of calcium, magnesium and iron. Avoiding caffeine, spicy food and excessive amounts of salt can also help lessen the symptoms of menopause. Foods high in sugar can also contribute to mood swings, so you may wish to avoid sugary foods as well. Being at a healthy weight will also lessen the effects of menopause.